Book support



M. A. BROWN BOOK SUPPORT I July 5, 1932.

Filed Feb. 12, 1931 Patented July 5, 1932 UNITED STATES MARY AGNES BROWN OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE BOOK SUPPORT Application filed February 12, 1931. Serial No. 515,352.

This invention relates to a book rest or support for use generally in the office, home, school or the like.

It is aimed to provide a novel construction adapted to be arranged upon a desk table or the like and support a book in open position, and have means which are adjustable or displaceable to permit turning of the leaves and securing thereof in the open position.

It is further aimed to provide a construction which is exceedingly simple, compact and sturdy and which may be manufactured at minimum cost.

Various additional objects will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing Figure 1 is a view of the device in perspective,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 10 designates a base which may be composed of superposed sheets 11 of thin metal or other suitable material. Against the bottom of the lowermost sheet 11, a covering 12 of felt or the like is provided, which may have disks 13 connected thereto and extending below the remainder, and which are of the same material. The felt material 12 and 13 is adapted to directly engage the supporting surface of the table, desk or the like and hence the latter will be protected against scratching or marring.

Midway of the ends of the base 10 supports 14 for the book are provided, preferably being two in number and spaced apart as shown. Such supports have inclined book supporting portions 15, upwardly extending stop lugs 16 at the forward ends, risers 17 atthe rear end, and securing tangs 18 which are disposed between the sheets 11 and secured in place by rivets 19 which also function to secure the sheets 11 together. Additional rivets at 20 are also provided to aid in securing the sheets 11 in unitary relation. Adjacent the front ends of the portions 15, long rivets 21 secure the same to the sheets 11 and spacing members 22 surround the same between the sheets and portions 15. Thus it will be realized thata book mayhave its back disposed centrally on the portions 15 and then opened and held in that position for reading. Hold-downs 23 and 24 are provided one at the rear and one at one end of the base 10 to coact with the leaves of the book. Means are provided whereby such hold-downs 23 may be adjusted vertically and also in an axial direction. To this end brackets 25 and 26 are provided. Each of these brackets has a base tongue 27 and 28 which are slidably mounted in spaces 29 and 30 provided between the sheets 11. The upright portions 31 and 32 of the brackets 25 and 26, have flanges 33 and 34 which are slidably engaged by the vertical arms 35 and 36 of the hold-downs 23 and 24, respectively. Thus it will be realized that the hold-downs 23 and 24 may be moved vertically with respect to the base and in directions away from and toward the base laterally and longitudinally, respectively, thus efiectively adjusting itself tothe size of the book and the arrangement of the pages.

It will be noted that between'the sheets 11, various spacer strips 37 are used, which are secured in place by the rivets 20, to aid in de- 35 fining the spaces or ways 29 and 30.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. A book support having a base, means thereon for engagement by the back of the book, and book leaf hold-down means slidably adjustable on the base, said hold-down means comprising relatively slidable sections 95 for adjustment according to the thickness of the book engaged thereby.

2. A book support of the class described having a base, means thereon for engagement by the back of a book, slidably adjustable hold-downs on opposite sides of. said means to coact with the leaves of the book, and means slidably mounting said hold-downs on the base so that their position may be varied according to the dimensions of the book.

3. A book support of the class described having a base, means thereon for engagement by the back of the book, L-shaped hold-downs on opposite sides of said means to coact With the leaves, brackets slidably mounting said hold-downs for vertical adjustment, and said brackets being slidably mounted on said base.

4. A device of the class described comprising a base, a substantially inclined support on the base for engagement by the back of a book, hold-down means on adjacent sides of the base, said hold-down means comprising tongues arranged at a right angle to each other, said base having spaces therein in which the tongues are slidably disposed, uprights on said tongues, hold-down members of L-shape slidably mounted on said upright portions, and flanges on the upright portions securing the hold-down members in place.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MARY AGNES BROWN. 

